Leg support for vehicle drivers



Feb. 12, 1952 w, mc w n' 2,585,398

LEG SUPPORT FOR VEHICLE DRIVERS Filed Aug. 12, 1948 Z6 )4 a /6 I 0 17 2/ z 24 5 W I 52 J i I I LALHIILIIHIII J I I I5 Patented Feb. 12, 1952 LEGS'UPPGRTFOR VEHICLE-DRIVERS John W.-Mcllwraith, New Castle, Pa. Application August '12, 1948;Serial'No. Hi-9'12 7 Claims.

This invention relates to "a leg support for vehicledrivers.

"The chief object of the present invention is to provide a leg rest or support that can be readily attached to the vehicle, readily adjusted to the driver and can be used with equal facility upon right and left handdriven'cars.

carshave a steering. column or post behind which is the drivers seat. Same/usually is disposed to one-side or the other of the vehicle. In long periods of driving the driver usually rests the knee-=closest to the near side of the vehicle'against that side or door thereof. This in a right drive car i the clutch side. The other leg normally is bent for throttle andbrakecontrol contact purposes.

The present invention accordingly is directed to a non-interfering support for the said other leg.

The chief feature of the present invention resides in the adjustability, flexibility and noninterfering character of such a support.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. l is a plan view of the invention applied to a left drive vehicle steering post, the latter being shown in transverse section.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the aforesaid.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l and of a modified form of the invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I indicates a conventional steering post of a left drive vehicle. A strap ll includes an eye portion l2 formed by sewing l3. The strap at one end includes the male portion M of a glove fastener and same is directed outwardly toward the other end which includes a plurality of spaced female portions l5 of glove fastener type and selectively associable with portion M to clamp the strap upon the column in adjusted position that is up or down and about the same as desired or required.

Secured in eye portion I2 is one leg of a rectangular loop member IS. The opposite leg is secured in eye portion l1 at one end of strap l8. The other end includes a grommet l9 that takes the curled end 20 of an extension 2| of a coil spring 22.

A confronting strap 23 includes in one end grommet 24 to take the other and loop end 25 of said spring. The other end of strap 23 is doubled back upon itself to form eye 26 and the free end is sewed at 21.

A flexible metal band 28, of U-shape.1at 'one end includes outwardly idirected':curled lip 29. The other end 30 isslottedatBl :to takethe eye portionzfi of strap 23. Secured to the inside face of this U shape'd band, as by copper rivets. 32:01 the likeis a sheepskin :pad.33 with wool side '34 directed inwardly as shown. v

The leg support described providesqegreat flexibilitysee, connections 1| 6, 19 '24 :andi26 as well'as spring. The. U-shapedpadded hook'williyiel'd slightly. .Being padded it will not. chafe the driver's leg. .In fefiectz the hookmay beidisposed as shown in Fig. l or transverse to that :position or in an intermediate position aszdesired or required. y

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a modified and the preferred form of the invention. Herein I0 again indicates the steering column. Ill indicates a strap that passes through a loop H6. Strap III at one end mounts a buckle I I4 and the other end I I la of said strap is associated therewith to clamp upon said column.

Hooked in loop H6 is a safety clip H8 hereinafter to be referred to more fully. Also hooked to the clip is a swivel structure H9 in turn connected to a hook I20. A fabric strap I28 has secured to it the wider sheepskin portion I33 with wool side I34 disposed inwardly.

Strap I28 terminates at one end in anchorage I30 securing loop or ring l3l. Its other end terminates in an extension portion l28a that provides a plurality of anchorages, herein three being shown and designated l30a, I301) and l30c, each securing a suitable ring or loop I3la, I3") and |3Ic respectively. Ring l3l and one of the rings designated by that number with a subscript are secured to hook I20.

Thus the present form of invention envelopes the drivers right leg at the preferred location for leg support purposes. When an emergency arises the driver can readily move the supported leg to the right which will open safely clip H8 since it is of bendable material and may be of paper clip stock type.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The modification described herein as well as others which Will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

i. A drivers leg rest structure for a vehicle having a steering post comprising in combination an adjustable clamping strap for post mounting, a leg embracing member, and yieldable means connecting the strap and member together.

2. A structure as defined by claim 1 wherein the member comprises a flexible metal band and a padded portion covering the interior face thereof.

3. A structure as defined by claim 1 wherein the yieldable means 'comprises'a coil tension spring.

4. A drivers leg rest structure for a vehicle,

comprising an adjustable strap for vehicle attachment, a leg embracing member including a flexible metal band and a padded portion covering the interior face thereof, and linkage connecting said strap and said band, said linkage including a deformable element responsive to a predetermined amount of tensional force to eficct band release. 5. A drivers leg rest structure for a vehicle having a steering column, comprising an adj ustable clamping strap adapted for attachment to the vehicle, a leg embracing member including a flexible metal band and a padded portion covering a substantial portion of theinterior face thereof, and a coupling connection between said strap and said band, said connection including a swivel element whereby said band is movable to difierent planes relative to said strap and at different angles relative to said column.

6. A drivers leg rest structure for a vehicle having a steering column, comprising an adjustable column enveloping strap, a leg enveloping accuses member including a flexible metal band and a padded portion covering a substantial part of the interior face thereof, and linkage connecting said strap and said band, said linkage including an element of deformable character responsive to a predetermined amount of tensional force for band release, and a swivel element.

7. A driver's leg rest structure for a vehicle having a steering column comprising an adjustable clamping strap enveloping said column, a leg enveloping member including a flexible metal band and a padded portion covering a substantial part of the interior face thereof, said band having a plurality of longitudinally spaced anchoring elements, and a coupling connection between said strap and said band, said connection including a readily deformable element connected to said strap, a swivel element connected to said deformable element, and a hook connected to said swivel element and to said band, said anchoring elements being selectively adapted fo connection to said hook to vary the distance separating said column from the remote portion of said padded portion.

JOHN W. McILWRAlI'I-I.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS Murdaugh -I Sept. 7 i942 

